Welcome to the Haiti Partnership!

Since 1995, the Haiti Partnership of the Susquehanna and Upper New York Annual Conferences has been sending volunteer mission teams to Haiti to build schools and churches, to provide humanitarian aid, and to do God's work along side the Haitian people. So much has been accomplished and so many lives have been changed. But there's still so much left to do.

Men, women, and youth age 17 and older are invited to join the Haiti Partnership as a mission team member. This year, we are sending six teams and over 65 Volunteers in Mission, many of whom are traveling to Haiti for the first time. Each volunteer raised $1,300 for their expenses, and the Helping Haiti Heal Offering taken by local churches helped to pay for project costs and other ministries.

For more information about becoming a Volunteer in Mission (VIM) volunteer, click on the links at left, or email Roger Richards at rrichards52@gmail.com.

Local churches are invited to participate in the Haiti Partnership by providing financial assistance or by making school bags. Check out the links for more information.

Is God calling you to serve the people of Haiti?

SCHEDULED TRIPS

The following teams have been scheduled (including team leaders)

2015

Feb. 26 - March 7

Barb Gay

Gary Weaver

Nancy Brooks

Chad Carter

March 5-14 - TEAM FILLED

Jodi Crimmel

Scott Reese

March 26 - April 4 - TEAM FILLED

Roger Richards

Chuck Hatton

October 15-24

Mike Willis

Jeff Kobza

If you are interested in applying to be a Volunteer in Mission for one of these trips,

All NEW volunteers MUST attend a mandatory training session before their scheduled trip.

Go to our VIM Training page for more information about these training sessions.

NOTE: The cost for a trip in 2014 is $1,300.**

(In 2015, we anticipate the cost to be $1,400.)

**Cost of travel for volunteers is subject to change based on airfare, in country travel expenses, food prices, etc.

We are very grateful to Barry and Diana Watkins for sponsoring a new FIRST TIMERS' SCHOLARSHIP for Volunteers in Mission going to Haiti. Through their generosity, many first time volunteers will receive help with their travel expense cost. Since 100% of all donations to the Haiti Partnership go directly to helping our brothers and sisters in Haiti, all volunteers are responsible for their own travel costs. We cannot thank Barry and Diana enough for their involvement and this generous continuing gift.

PLEASE NOTE: All checks for VIM team members for trip expenses should be made payable to "Upper New York Conference" (and please spell out "New York").

HELP WANTED!

The Haiti Partnership needs van drivers to shuttle our mission teams to and from the airport in New York City.

DONATE TO THE HAITI PARTNERSHIP

We are now an Advance Special of both the Upper New York and Susquehanna Conferences of the United Methodist Church! You may make a monetary donation to either conference.

Upper New York Conference

Susquehanna Conference

Check payable to: Upper New York Conference

Check payable to: Susquehanna Conference

In memo line: Advance Special #3148

In memo line: Advance Special #8035

Mail to:

Treasurer

Upper New York Conference of the UMC

324 University Ave., 3rd Floor
Syracuse, N.Y. 13210

Mail to:

Finance Office

Susquehanna Conference, UMC

303 Mulberry Drive

P.O. Box 2053

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-2053

REMEMBER: 100% of all monetary donations goes directly to help the people of Haiti. The Ministry Shares paid by our local United Methodist Churches cover all administrative and overhead expenses!

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE HAITI PARTNERSHIP

Haiti has long been known as the poorest county in the Western Hemisphere. They have a very sad history of exploitation by outsiders and by fellow Haitians. But being so close to the United States, Haiti has also been a very popular site for Christians who want to be Volunteers in Mission (VIM). In any given year, as many as 100 United Methodist teams from across the country travel to Haiti.

Those who have traveled on any of these trips have been inspired by the Haitian people who work out of hope and faith rather than out of despair in the midst of their severe poverty.

Great things have been accomplished in recent years in our current project. Many lives have been touched. There are more than 140 students active in a school where there was just a field of scrub brush in 2004. Our mission is alive and growing! We pray that God will continue to use us as vessels for extending God's love to those in great need.

You are encouraged to pray for the people of Haiti and our mission with them.